Nursing Schools in Tennessee

Pellissippi State Community College (PSCC) is located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The school is operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents and it has four satellite campuses located in the general area. PSCC is a public community college that was established back in 1974. It is fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. There are associate’s degree programs, certificate programs, and many college transfer options. PSCC even has various online class options for students who need the extra convenience. This school has proven to be a great option for anyone in the community who is looking to further his or her education or career prospects.

The PSCC nursing program offers students an opportunity to earn associate’s degrees in nursing. The school has a traditional pathway to becoming a registered nurse and a bridge program for current LPNs. Graduates of this nursing program will be capable of functioning as professional registered nurses in a variety of different medical settings. This nursing program is approved by the Tennessee State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is a public institution and part of the University of Tennessee System, along with campuses in Knoxville and Martin. It was established in 1886 and merged with several schools and universities over the years before becoming the Chattanooga campus for the University of Tennessee. The Chattanooga campus now offers over 140 undergraduate majors and over 50 minors. It also offers close to 100 graduate degree programs. While the university is best known for its business program, it does offer a wide variety of programs in other disciplines, including nursing. The campus includes many academic buildings, including Metropolitan Hall, which houses the nursing department. 

The nursing programs offered at the university include traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, RN to BSN, MSN, and DNP programs. These options are accredited by the CCNE. With the traditional BSN, students receive several advantages, including small class sizes and small clinical groups. Students receive more individualized attention from their instructors. With the accelerated BSN program, students can earn their BSN in 16 months. The university also offers an online program for registered nurses. The RN to BSN path is also designed to be completed in 16 months and is completed 100% online.

Columbia State Community College is located in Columbia, Tennessee. This community college was established in 1966 and it serves more than 5000 students. The school even has the distinction of being Tennessee’s very first community college. Students can earn associate’s degrees in various fields and will also have several certificate opportunities. Columbia State is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school also takes part in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway system, making it easy to transfer credits to four-year universities in Tennessee.

The Columbia State nursing program allows students to pursue associate’s degrees in nursing. There will also be certain advanced placement options for LPNs who are seeking to gain RN status. The Columbia State nursing program has a competitive admissions process and is a very sought-after program. It boasts excellent success rates on the NCLEX licensure exams, scoring above the national and state averages. Students also find employment in the field of nursing very easily upon graduation. This nursing program has been approved by the Tennessee State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Established in 1842, Cumberland University is a private institution in Lebanon, Tennessee. Most of the buildings on the campus were constructed in the mid-1890s, as several buildings were burned down during the American Civil War. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church founded the university, and it was chartered by the state in 1843. Several years later, the church added the Cumberland School of Law, which was the first law school west of the Appalachian Mountains and the first in the state. Cumberland University has two sororities and four fraternities, along with several student clubs and organizations.

Cumberland University offers four undergraduate nursing degree programs. Students may enroll in a traditional BSN, RN to BSN, accelerated BSN, or LPN to BSN program. All four programs are accredited by the CCNE. The traditional BSN is an eight-semester program that is completed in four years.  The RN to BSN includes flexible scheduling for working RNs. This program also requires at least two years of experience as an RN. The RN to BSN program does not require clinical rotations. However, clinical experiences are part of the accelerated and traditional BSN programs. The university also offers an MSN program with two specialty tracks – Nurse Educator and Nurse Executive Leadership and Administration.

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public institution in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is part of the University of Tennessee System that includes three campuses in the state. It was established in 1794, two years before Tennessee became a state. It was originally called Blount College and is now the flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System. The university also has its own medical center. The University of Tennessee Medical Center offers training and potential job placement for students earning degrees in nursing and other health sciences. Student enrollment exceeds 28,000 annually, making it one of the largest universities in the region. 

Nine CCNE-accredited nursing programs are offered at the university. Undergraduate degrees include all the standard paths, including traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN to BSN programs. Graduate degree programs include accelerated MSN, RN to MSN, and traditional MSN. The university also offers DNP, Ph.D., and BSN to Ph.D. programs. The accelerated BSN program is a 12-month program and requires a full-time schedule for three semesters. The BSN programs provide students with access to technology-enhanced classrooms and clinical experiences at local hospitals, clinics, health departments, and schools. Students enrolled in the MSN program may choose from one of four concentrations, including Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. 

Cleveland State Community College is located in Cleveland, Tennessee. This public community college was established back in 1967. This school boasts a 105-acre campus, a 3000-seat gymnasium, a 400-seat theatre, various athletic fields, and a large library. Students will be able to earn a variety of different associate’s degrees and certificates while attending this school. It gives students the chance to pursue a comprehensive education that will help them to find professional success. Cleveland State Community College is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

The nursing program at Cleveland State Community College is very respected. This nursing program allows students to pursue associate’s degrees in nursing. It allows students to grow their skills in a safe environment and all instructors are very experienced. Students at this school have traditionally gone on to find great success in their professional lives. Successful graduates of this program will be ready to apply for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. This nursing program has been fully approved by the Tennessee State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Chattanooga State Community College is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents System. Chatt State is a public community college that was established back in 1965. It serves just over 10,000 students currently. This college has also been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. There are 50 different career programs that can culminate in earning degrees or certificates. This has a Tennessee Transfer Pathways program that makes transferring over to other Tennessee Board of Regents schools, including four-year universities, very simple.

Chatt State also has a very popular associate’s degree in nursing program that will allow students to become registered nurses. The program has both day and night options for the convenience of the students. The Chatt State nursing program has the full approval of the Tennessee State Board of Nursing. This program has also been accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Established in 1823, Union University is a private institution in Jackson, Tennessee. It is affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention. The university is the result of mergers between several schools, including the West Tennessee College and Southwestern Baptist University. The Jackson campus includes 290 acres of land and includes dormitories for women and men and a married housing complex. Other buildings on campus include an administration center, baseball parks, two soccer fields, academic halls, and a wellness center. In 2008, the campus was hit by a major tornado, causing over $40 million in damages. A decade later, the campus has been restored. However, some of the older buildings were not reopened. 

Six CCNE-accredited nursing programs are offered at Union University. Undergraduate programs include traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, RN to BSN, and LPN to BSN. The university also offers graduate degree programs for nursing students wishing to obtain their MSN or DNP. Like most four-year BSN programs, the traditional BSN at Union University includes two years of prerequisite courses before students begin taking their nursing courses. During the junior and senior years, students also begin their clinical rotations and lab training. With the accelerated program, students who already have a bachelor’s degree in a separate field can earn their BSN in just 15 months.

Nashville State Community College (NSCC) is located in Nashville, Tennessee. NSCC was established in 1970 and it now serves just a little bit under 10,000 students. This school is operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents and has a 109-acre campus shared with the Tennessee Technology Center at Nashville. There are many classrooms, labs, offices, and a full library. NSCC offers students many opportunities to earn associate’s degrees and certificates. There are also many workforce and community development opportunities at NSCC. Some online courses are available for students who need to work on their educations when they have available time.

The NSCC nursing program gives students the opportunity to pursue training to become registered nurses. Students will be able to earn associate’s degrees in nursing at NSCC. The curriculum includes educational opportunities in a classroom setting as well as clinical experiences at local healthcare agencies in middle Tennessee. The nursing program at NSCC has been approved by the Tennessee State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).